Orissa HC issues notice to private medical colleges over MBBS fee hike

The Orissa High Court has issued notices to private medical colleges in the state over the steep hike in MBBS course fees, following petitions filed by aspiring medical students.

The controversy centres on Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital (MCH) in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. The Bhubaneswar unit raised annual MBBS fees from ₹6.5 lakh to ₹11.5 lakh, while the Rourkela unit hiked fees from ₹5.5 lakh to ₹8.54 lakh.

Aggrieved students, who had already secured places on the merit list for MBBS admissions, approached the High Court seeking intervention. Their counsel argued that the sudden and substantial increase in fees was “irrational and arbitrary”, adding that students were already struggling to arrange financial assistance, including bank education loans.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak and Justice Mruganka Sekar Sahoo heard the matter and directed that any fees collected by the colleges from the petitioners would be subject to the final outcome of the writ petitions and without prejudice to the rights of the students or the institutions.

The court’s interim order has provided temporary relief to the students while the matter awaits a final hearing.